Western Sydney Wanderers striker Simon Cox says Scottish midfielder Graham Dorrans has the potential to be ‘one hell of a player’ for the Red and Black in the 2020/21 A-League season.
Cox – who played alongside Dorrans at English side West Bromwich Albion for three seasons – returned to the Wanderers camp for pre-season on Monday morning after completing his stint of hotel quarantine.
With Dorrans expected to link up with the Wanderers squad in December, Cox told the club website of what Wanderers fans can expect from the experienced midfielder when he makes his A-League bow.
“I’ve played with Dozza (Graham Dorrans) at West Brom and if we get the player that he was at West Brom, then we’ve got one hell of a player on our hands here,” Cox said.
“Someone very creative, a box-to-box midfielder, someone who can score goals which we need from the midfield as well.
“So once he gets in and gets settled, acclimatising then we can showcase his abilities.
We will be a better team with him in it 100%”
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Cox and Dorrans’ three-year spell playing together at West Brom coincided with the club’s promotion to the Premier League after finishing second in the Championship in 2009/10.
It was the pair’s first season playing alongside one another at the club; Dorrans scored 13 goals in his 45 appearances whilst Cox contributed nine goals from 28.
Cox departed for Nottingham Forest at the conclusion of West Brom’s 2011/12 Premier League campaign whilst Dorrans stayed on for three more seasons, but Dorrans says he hasn’t forgotten the chemistry – both on and off-field – both he and Cox shared which he hopes to reignite in the A-League.
“(Simon Cox) – we played together at West Brom. I’m looking forward to being back together,” Dorrans said.
“We had a successful time being promoted together and he’s someone I connected well with on and off the pitch.
“Hopefully we can bring a bit of success to the club this season.”
Above: Cox and Dorrans featuring for West Brom in the club’s successful promotion push in the 2009/10 Championship season.
Cox arrived in Western Sydney in January, 2020 but played just seven games before proceedings ground to a halt due to Covid-19.
He played a further five games after the league’s restart, but will be hoping an uninterrupted pre-season will hold him in far better stead to make the impact he’s capable of, as he leads the Wanderers’ attacking line this season.
The 33-year-old is buzzing ahead of a new A-League campaign, with Robinson at the helm and news of Dorrans’ impending arrival at the club adding to his desire to hit the ground running through a gruelling pre-season.
“I spoke with Carl [Robinson] when I was back in the UK and the conversation went really well,” Cox said.
“I liked what he said and the first few days of being back here, we’ve had a decent relationship so far.
“I think he just likes to see me running around the pitch more than anything.
“Once I get into the football side of things, I’m sure I’ll learn a lot more about the way he wants us to play.”
Cox continued: “obviously, we will be very fit and it’ll be high intensity which is good because the higher up the pitch you are, you win the the ball back and it gives your strikers more opportunities to score goals,” Cox said.
“So that’ll be interesting and good for myself, and the strikers here.
“We’re a football club that are hoping to make big strides this year. We’re not a club that likes to stand still. I’m looking forward to it.”
